Plizio Visual Lab
Black Forest High Road
Plizio editorial teamData Sources
Mountain
Weather…
Water temperature…
The Black Forest High Road (Schwarzwaldhochstraße) is Germany's oldest and most famous tourist route, extending 60 kilometers along the ridge of the northern Black Forest. It runs at elevations between 800 and over 1,000 meters from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt. The road was primarily developed in the 1930s for strategic and touristic purposes, though sections had existed since 1907. Geologically, the route follows the main Bunter sandstone ridge, which drops steeply toward the Rhine Valley and tapers more gently to the east. Striking points along the way include the Mummelsee, an ice-age cirque lake, and the summit of the Hornisgrinde, the highest peak in the northern Black Forest. The high road provides spectacular views across the Rhine Plain to the Vosges Mountains in Alsace. Today, it is a core component of the Black Forest National Park and serves as an access route to numerous hiking trails and ski resorts.
- Location: Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Top sights: Gottschlägtal - Karlsruher Grat · Wilder See - Hornisgrinde · Nationalparkzentrum
- Nearby: Oberkirch (12 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain mm | 84 | 63 | 70 | 58 | 99 | 83 | 92 | 89 | 65 | 81 | 74 | 91 |
📋 Practical info
Getting there
Driving is the primary and most spectacular way to experience this high-altitude route, easily reached from major regional towns and offering continuous access to numerous natural sights.
Best season
Summer and early autumn provide the clearest driving conditions and most bustling forest colors, although the road is legendary for its dramatic, snow-draped beauty during the cold winter.
Terrain & paths
The route itself is a smoothly paved panoramic highway, while the adjacent hiking trails dive immediately into deep, undulating forests and steep valleys characteristic of the general region.
What to bring
If you plan to stop and hike, sturdy trail shoes are essential, alongside a versatile windbreaker to combat the breezy conditions typically found at altitudes between 600 and 1,000 meters.
Parking
Generous parking bays and dedicated lots are strategically placed at regular intervals along the highway, allowing visitors to easily pull over for photographs or to begin a scenic forest hike.
Safety
Drivers should remain attentive to sharp curves and frequent fog patches, while hikers should ensure they return to their vehicles before dark, as the dense forest can become quite disorienting.
Time needed
Driving the route non-stop takes just a few hours, but most travelers turn it into a full-day adventure, stopping frequently to explore viewpoints, waterfalls, and nearby wilderness trails.
Geography
Facts
- The length of the scenic road is exactly 60 kilometers.
- Highest point is the Hornisgrinde at 1,164 meters.
- Officially inaugurated under its current name in 1932.
- The Mummelsee is located at 1,036 meters right on the route.
- The road is a section of the Federal Highway B 500.
- Average driving time without stops is approximately 1 hour.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Black Forest High Road (7)
Sights nearby
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Black Forest High Road start and end?
The route runs for 60 km from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt.
What is the Mummelsee?
A legendary glacial lake located directly on the high road at 1036 m altitude.
Can the route be driven in winter?
Yes, the B500 is usually cleared, but has alpine winter conditions.
What is the highest point along the high road?
The Hornisgrinde is the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest at 1163 m.
Are there viewpoints for photos?
Numerous parking lots offer panoramic views as far as the Rhine Valley and the Vosges.
Black Forest High Road: where is it located?
Black Forest High Road is located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Black Forest High Road: what is there to see?
Highlights include Gottschlägtal - Karlsruher Grat, Wilder See - Hornisgrinde, Nationalparkzentrum.
Black Forest High Road: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Black Forest High Road: why is it worth visiting?
The Black Forest High Road (Schwarzwaldhochstraße) is Germany's oldest and most famous tourist route, extending 60 kilometers along the ridge of the northern Black Forest.
Explore with Plizio
Discover more places in Europe
More places in Germany →
Nearby cities
Stuttgart
Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, is idyllically located in a valley basin surrounded by vineyards.
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe has a fan-shaped city layout.
Freiburg im Breisgau
Freiburg im Breisgau is located in southwestern Baden-Württemberg and boasts of being the sunniest major city in Germany.
Pforzheim
Pforzheim is called the gold city.
Reutlingen
Reutlingen is located at the foot of the Swabian Jura in Baden-Württemberg.
Esslingen
Esslingen has one of the oldest half-timbered old towns.
Esslingen am Neckar
A former Free Imperial City featuring one of Germany's best-preserved medieval old towns and a prestigious sparkling wine tradition.
Tübingen
Tübingen is a university city on the Neckar with a medieval flair, known for its scholars and the Tübingen punting boats.
Ludwigsburg
A magnificent baroque city north of Stuttgart, famous for its grand residential palace and the 'Blooming Baroque' gardens.
Villingen-Schwenningen
A dual city in the Black Forest that combines Baden tradition with Württemberg industrial history (watchmaking).
Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen is an important location for the car industry.
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is located in Baden-Württemberg near the Black Forest.
Waiblingen
A historic Staufer city in the Rems valley, known for its picturesque riverside old town and strong industrial base.
Lahr/Schwarzwald
Lahr, at the edge of the Black Forest, is a flourishing garden city famous for the Chrysanthema festival and its military heritage.
Leonberg
Leonberg is a vibrant city near Stuttgart, famous for the historic Pomeranzengarten and the Leonberger dog breed.